5 Of The Weirdest Countries In The World

Every country has its quirks. And while there’s no scale to measure weirdness, it’s a safe bet that the five countries listed below are among the weirdest in the world.

1 Bhutan

“We do not believe in Gross National Product. Gross National Happiness is more important”. And so the teenage King of Bhutan famously said in 1979. Since then, Gross National Happiness has become a Bhutanese philosophy. It is enshrined in the country’s constitution, and Bhutan’s people have many things to be happy about. Seventy per cent of the Himalayan kingdom is forest, while towering, monastery-dotted mountains cradle pristine rivers and ancient villages. It’s no wonder visitors refer to the isolated Himalayan nation as the world’s last Shangri-La. However, Bhutan does have a penchant for the peculiar. Huge, decorative phallic symbols adorn temples, houses, and government buildings, while chilli is considered a full meal and rice is served red. All tourists must pay $250 per person per day. On its face, this may seem expensive, but it covers accommodation, transport, a guide, food, and entry fees. Plus, it keeps the backpacking hordes at bay.